What a hoot! Owl recovers after long-haul flight

An Australian barn owl which crossed the Tasman to New Zealand is recuperating in Rotorua.

The barn owl (tyto delicatula) is nursing a severe broken wing as a result of its unplanned transtasman crossing and is recovering at Rotorua's Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust.

Manager Noel Hyde said staff picked up the bird after it was found, in a distressed state, in a Kaitaia farm paddock

It was not uncommon for birds in Australia to be caught up in trade winds and blown to New Zealand. Mr Hyde said.

"We have had around six cases of barn owls which have turned up here in New Zealand."

Mr Hyde said the bird would become a permanent resident at Wingspan because its wing would never fully mend.

Staff haven't yet named it but plan to auction naming rights to the owl in a bid to raise money to pay for its vet bill and build an aviary for it. The bird has several pins in its wing, which is in a cast.

"It was pretty touch and go when we first got the owl.

"It was emaciated and very distressed. But thanks to the great work done by the staff at Central City Vets our little feathered friend has pulled through."

The owl's gender would be known once the results of a DNA test on its feathers was done later in the week, Mr Hyde said.

Mia Jessen, who has been the owl's main caregiver, said the owl would be the only one in captivity in New Zealand.

* Naming rights to the owl will be auctioned off at Wingspan on October 18.